HKIA sees record passenger surge and cargo growth in August

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) experienced a significant surge in passenger traffic and cargo volume in August, driven by a rebound in travel to and from Japan and sustained demand from mainland China and other destinations, according to Airport Authority Hong Kong. 

The airport handled 5.68 million passengers, marking a 15.8 percent increase compared to the same month last year, and recorded 34,840 flight movements, a 10.2 percent rise. 

Passenger traffic reached a post-pandemic daily high on August 10, surpassing 200,000 travelers, though days affected by flight rescheduling due to adverse weather were excluded from this record.

Cargo volume also saw notable growth, rising 5.6 percent year on year to 429,000 tonnes.

This increase was primarily fueled by strong traffic to and from Europe and the Middle East, which offset declines in North American routes impacted by ongoing tariff issues.

A 13.5 percent rise in transshipments further supported the cargo growth.

Over the first eight months of 2025, HKIA reported a 15.4 percent increase in passenger volume, totaling 40.3 million, and a 9.9 percent rise in flight movements, reaching 260,830.

Cargo traffic grew by 2.6 percent to 3.3 million tonnes. 

On a 12-month rolling basis, passenger numbers climbed 16.7 percent to 58.4 million, flight movements increased by 11.9 percent to 386,655, and cargo throughput rose 5 percent to 5 million tonnes.

In addition to its operational achievements, HKIA was recognized as the “Best Global Airport” and “Best Airport – Asia (Over 1m tonnes)” at the 2025 Asian Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain (AFLAS) Awards, organized by Asia Cargo News. 

This marks the tenth consecutive year HKIA has secured the “Best Global Airport” title.

The awards, determined by nominations and votes from readers and industry professionals, celebrate excellence among air and shipping lines, airports, seaports, and logistics providers.

Cissy Chan, Executive Director, Commercial of Airport Authority Hong Kong, expressed pride in the dual accolades, noting that they reflect the trust and support of the air cargo industry. 

She emphasized the airport’s commitment to maintaining high standards and enhancing facilities and services to better serve its partners and stakeholders.